Watching some of Hakeem's old videos on YouTube, you just cant imagine how well a center can move when he weighs less than 300 lbs. His stamina and lateral movement would greatly improve. This league is starting to transition to a faster pace style of play. Should Yao adapt to this? Give you input.
i've been saying this for like forever. It'd be easier for him to operate. It'd be more easier for him to do his spin moves. Plus, if he'd learn that running hook that duncan has in his arsenal, he'd be so much more effective. What he really needs though, is a summer with hakeem.
Yao is never going to be able to move like Dream could (no big man today can). Nor will he ever be a very agile player. I think he's most effective at the weight he has now, which gives him strength in the post.
Yao has also never been below 300 pounds... even when he was rail-thin as a rookie. His added muscle allows him to produce at a high level... and it also will inevitably keep him at above 300.
lol he is not overweight his upperbody is even underdeveloped! the biggest problem are his legs, they weigh a ton! I don't think there will be anyone agile as Yao, ever in the NBA!
Shedding a few pounds wont help his speed much. Even at say, 290 pounds, he'd still be the heaviest player in the NBA (outside of Shaq). He is already at his optimal playing weight. Even at 310, it doesn't take too much to push Yao out because of his high center of gravity. Further loss of weight would just make it easier for opponents to push him out. We should just accept his weaknesses and try to minimize them.
Being over 300lb isn't the problem. Being 7'6" is. Yao could drop down to 250 and he wouldn't be noticeably quicker but he would be too weak to establish post position. Physically, he is the best he can be. The mental part is what needs some work.
Yao can starve himself, but he'll always be ponderously slow. MIght as well be strong as well as slow. "People say he runs well for his size! I think he runs well for a small forward!!"- Rudy T in 2002, showing us that he must have fallen off the wagon at some point.
yao worked his ass off to put on the lean mass he has now. he damn welll better keep it. what he needs is more coordination and balance training. hakeem was the most agile and nimble big man ever.. he was a giant puma with reflexes... yao is the tin man right now..
Yeah he needs to lose some of that extra soft charmin stuff that's making him settle for all the fadeaways clanking off the rim. And maybe trim some of the cream puffs that's causing him to go for the layups round and round the rim instead of the easy dunks.
I talked all about this before Yao Ming came to the Rockets. Most of youi wanted him top put on more weight and muscle, trying to make him into something that he is not.
